Dawn Tschabrun was recently named the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell. Previously the Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Operations Officer at Lovelace Regional Hospital-Roswell since 2012 and the Chief Nursing Officer at the facility since 2009, Dawn brings 25 years of nursing experience with 12 years of progressive managerial experience to this position. We asked Dawn five questions as she begins her new role.

When did your interest in working in health care begin?

In high school, I knew health care was my chosen profession. I began as an RN, working in critical care and moving steadily toward management roles. In 2000, I went back to school to obtain an MBA and continued to obtain management experiences. I am now able to have a greater impact on those who need care: our patients.

Moving from your previous role as CNO/COO at Lovelace Regional Hospital – Roswell to now CEO, what steps would you like to see the hospital take moving forward, and what is your vision for the future of the hospital in this community?

I would like to see our facility expand service lines to meet the existing needs of our community and surrounding area. We need to ensure that families can stay close to home when a loved one becomes ill. My vision is four-fold:

Expand the physical facility, tailoring the expansion to align with community needs and provider recruitment

Expand service lines by recruiting additional physicians to Roswell

Deliver exceptional care every day to every patient by exceeding customer expectations at all touch points while maintaining and improving quality

Solidify relationships within the community

For anyone who has yet to visit Roswell or Lovelace Regional Hospital, what makes this community and hospital unique? Describe the culture.

Lovelace Regional Hospital has a culture unique to itself. A rural area is highly dependent upon personal relationships; you know your neighbor, you see them all around town. Our facility is no different. We are a family, an extended family, we care for each other. We have worked together for several years, many have seen kids grow up, graduate, marry and have grandkids. We optimize our connection to our community and deliver the personal touch.

We’ve seen recent changes in Roswell with regards to improving patient access to health care providers, specifically with the opening of the Lovelace Health Care Center in Roswell. As the CEO of the hospital, how are you going to work to continue to build on this progress?

Improving access to health care has been a key driver for Lovelace Heath System in Roswell. Provider recruitment remains primary to the establishment of access. I view this in three frames: First, recruit new providers to Roswell. Second, re-recruit providers currently in Roswell. Third, work with LHS to create an accountable care organization extending into Southeast New Mexico.

Outside of championing improved health care in Roswell, what do you like to do when you are not wearing the hat as CEO?

I serve on the Board for Friends of Bitter Lake National Wildlife Foundation, as a board member of St. Andrew’s Foundation and vestry member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. For fun, I enjoy time with my spouse, any outdoor activity and riding motorcycles.